President's New Year address

President Bronisław Komorowski

For Poland, 2011 was a time of stability and political continuity, President Bronislaw Komorowski said in a Saturday televised address. He expressed hope that 2012 will be a time of "bold, but prudent changes."

President Komorowski positively assessed Poland's presidency of the EU. "Today ends the historic period of the Polish presidency. Also here, during difficult times, we managed to professionally steer the work of the Union. I am proud that Poles showed themselves as good and effective organisers of common European issues."

The president assessed that this builds Poland's strong position today and in the future. "I believe that like Solidarity brought freedom for Poland, more solidarity will help the European Union in coming out of the crisis," stressed Komorowski.

According to the president, a good opportunity to promote Poland "in the eyes of the world, but also in our own eyes and hearts" will be the upcoming EURO 2012 European Soccer Championship tournament.

Referring to domestic matters, the president expressed hope that the coming year will be a year of building pillars for fruitful future.

However, the president admitted that 2011 was not an easy and rewarding year for all. "We know that not all of us look into the future with optimism and joy. At the end of this year, we all were affected by the tragedy of the death of Polish soldiers in Afghanistan, the death of young Poles who gave their lives in the service of their country. We share a warm thought with their families and their loved ones," Komorowski said.

The president stressed that nobody should be left without support. "Let us be sensitive to human problems, to the needs of people experienced by fate in different ways.

Bronisław Komorowski said that Poland's success of the past 20 years was a sustained economic growth that creates the foundation of the country's prosperity.

"President Obama in May...has placed our country as a model of transformation. And it was not a mere courtesy, but genuine admiration and respect for society which not only triggered an avalanche of democratic changes in Europe, but was able to wisely take advantage of the regained freedom," said the president.

According to Komorowski that was a sign of recognition that today Poland is the twentieth economy in the world, the sixth economy in the European Union. "This is why we are highly rated and respected in the world."

"We can be proud that today, in addition to the traditional Polish courage and love of freedom, in the eyes of the world the source of our prosperity is also good work, professionalism and good organisation," said President Komorowski.

Bronisław Komorowski wished Poles hope of a good future and faith in their own strength. He added that Poles welcome the New Year 2012 "with hope, believing that it will fulfill our dreams and plans, that it will bring peace, love and happiness to our families." (PAP)